Description
The 2018 growing season started with late winter rains then a spring marked with intermittent cloudy skies likely delayed bud-break and flowering, which was then followed by ideal fruit set conditions, driving up overall volumes by 20 – 30%. Steady summer heat accumulation with only a couple of short hike spikes combined with a near-perfect fall season created great phenolic accumulation without high sugar concentration.
Grown on the rocky slopes of Mt. Veeder, 2018 is mountain Cabernet at its finest. Aromas of blue and red fruits intermingle with a touch of baking spice. The tannins are firm yet refined while the weight on the palate is dense and lush. Compelling now, one can only imagine its true cellaring potential
#68 of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2020
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and opulent but maintains an underlying thread of pure finesse. Blackberries and spice jump from the glass followed by secondary notes of dark chocolate and anise. Perfectly balanced acidity leads to a long, memorable finish. Beguiling now, 2017 will charm your cellar for years to come.
95 pts Wine Spectator
This offers blackberry, boysenberry, and açaí berry compote flavors that sparkle with anise, sassafras, and sage accents. Shows serious tarry grip, but that recedes into the fruit as this airs in the glass, leaving embers of singed juniper and alder at the very end. Best from 2023 through 2040.
95 pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Two percent of the Malbec in the blend this year comes from the 2018 vintage. Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder bursts out of the glass with vivacious black currants, black cherries, and wild blueberries notes with touches of dark chocolate, licorice, violets, and cloves. Full-bodied, firm, and very finely grained in terms of texture, the palate explodes with fruit and freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully fragrant. Impressive!
94 pts Wine Enthusiast
Densely built-in cassis, dried herb, cedar, and sage, this lovely wine from the great appellation shows structure and grip in its youth. Dusty gravel adds to the weight and texture, with ample acidity to keep it fresh in the glass.
93 pts Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a richer, broader, more concentrated wine, yet it also has a serious amount of tannins. Lots of dark chocolate, blackcurrant, forest floor, and espresso notes all emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated, impressive effort that’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have 20+ years of longevity. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% each of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
Extremely pure fruit with blueberries and blackcurrants. Lavender, too. Full body. Stony and slightly austere tannins, but real mountain character.
